object of desire: the velvet jacket

velvet jacket day to eveningThere’s just something about a velvet jacket. A touch of velvet is feminine, romantic and just a little insouciant in a casual outfit. But pair it with something sparkly, and it grounds and adds elegance to an evening look.

Shown above: jacket – Chicos
left: earrings | scarf (similar) | sweater | bracelet | bag | jeans | boots
right: necklace | top | pants | bracelet | clutch | shoes

About this time every year, I re-launch my hunt for that perfect velvet jacket. Still haven’t found The One, but I’ve spotted a few this year that could be contenders. Black is my preference of course, but there are many lovely options in other colors for those who prefer.

I’m also seeing a good variety of styles available this season. There’s the traditional blazer style, and I like the cut of the J.Crew “Regent” blazer, with its standing collar. This pewter color is nice, though it’s offered in several other colors, as well as Petite and Tall sizes.

velvet jacket

More velvet blazers…

Boden |  Tahari | Talbots (Misses, Petites, Woman and Woman Petites) |  Rag & Bone |
J. Crew “Campbell” (more of a le smoking style) | Topshop Unique | Toast

The style I’m leaning toward most is this season’s longer jacket.

Eileen Fisher velvet duster

When I had lunch with Sandra (Apart From My Art) last week, she mentioned that she’d tried on this velvet duster from Eileen Fisher shown above and loved it. It’s a fun, dramatic look, and a piece that would look just as good with a pair of jeans as with the silk separates shown. Washable, too! I wish it were available in Petites, but I may try it anyway.

velvet kimono jacket

I like the shorter sleeves on this Zara velvet kimono, but it hasn’t shown up at our local store yet, so haven’t been able to see in person or try on.

More velvet long jackets:

BodenFree People | Chico’s | Eileen Fisher Women’s | Free People (quilted velvet) | Title A | Poetry

If your style skews more Bohemian, I’ve spotted a few printed, embroidered and embellished styles that will sing Stevie Nicks to your Inner Hippie Chick. 😉

floral embroidered jacket

This one from Johnny Was would look fabulous with denim or your favorite silk pants.

la bohème…

4 Love and Liberty | Johnny Was | ZaraChicos

Do you have a favorite velvet jacket? How do you style it?

Affiliate links in this post may generate commissions for unefemme.net. See complete disclosure policy here.

Stay in touch

Sign up to be notified of new posts and updates from une femme d’un certain âge.

Affiliate links in posts may generate commissions for unefemme.net. See my complete disclosure policy here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

27 Comments

  1. Do you know when the velvet boyfriend jacket was avail. at Chicos? Was it this fall? If so I may call around to try and find it. I LOVE the Poetry and E. Fisher long jackets but the EF one is out of my price range and the other is limited sizing available.. Anyone find longer velvet jackets that are under $250.00? I am obsessed with owning one.

    1. Nancy, it was available over the weekend when I was putting this post together. With any luck, may still be in stores.

      1. Thank you. I will check my local store. Would like to see it as I think Chicos quality is hit and miss and I do look at this as an investment piece but that said my investment needs to be in the $200.00 range (or below if possible)

      2. Update for anyone else interested in the Chicos jacket. Called my local store when it opened and altho they never got this item and it showed out of stock on line they were able to order it…perhaps from other stores’ inventory? I inquired if it was velvet or velveteen and the store said it was listed as velvet. Will report back after I receive it on the sizing, quality, etc.

  2. I love all your selections, but, sadly, most of them are no longer available (sigh). My own search? I’ve been looking for the “perfect” ivory silk blouse………for several years now, to no avail. I’m petite and curvy, so stiff, more structured styles don’t work well for me, and often the sleeves are too long or the cuff too wide. Love the Chico’s velvet jacket!!!

    1. Juli, I just double checked links and most seem to still be available. The Chico’s jacket was available when I was putting this post together yesterday, so sorry it sold out so quickly.

  3. I’ve got …eeek…six velvet jackets. This has been the year to find them in great condition at thrift stores and I love them. I think the texture is wonderful (even if it is a magnet for dog hair!).

    I style them with t-shirts and pencil skirts, jeans and boho blouses. Really they go with everything, even many of my dresses.

    I quite like the grey jacket you’ve shown here.

    bisous
    Suzanne

  4. I’m happy to see some of your picks are washable, because I’m on a mission to avoid drycleaning. And I love Suzanne (above’s) score at thrifts. It does not make a lot of sense to buy something at full price that is seasonal and not worn all that often. But if on sale…. 😉

    1. Yes (to your no-drycleaning mission; I pretty much refuse to own anything I can’t at the VERY least wash gently by hand). And yes again (to thrift store finds).

  5. I like the look of velvet jackets and have owned a couple over the years, but they haven’t ended up being worn much.
    I’m not sure what the issue is, a disconnect between the vibe I get when I see them advertised and what I actually wear or a lifestyle that’s not velvet-event heavy. In the interest of having a closet of clothes I wear I’ll enjoy looking at them, the EF one is attractive, but pass on actually owning one — sorry you thrift shoppers, I won’t be a supplier again 🙂

    I do own a couple of velvet scarves, and of course a hat, and wear them happily.

    Good luck with the Zara kimono. I enjoy their web site but find their stores, which are not heavily stocked, to require too frequent shopping for me to snag the good stuff.

  6. I have an early version of the Boden velvet jacket, purchased in 2008, and it’s still going strong. However, it’s outwear, not a blazer, and would be too heavy (both practically and visually) to double as a blazer.

  7. Yeah, I scored a Jones New York heavy velved zip jacket last year or the year before at Le Chaînon (a charity shop that helps women in crisis, where I also give stuff) but it is as warm as many leather jackets. Although it is pure cotton, I haven’t dared wash it by hand. I also have a wreck of a Cotton Ginny one, which I love but only wear while working at home as it is more than a bit decrepit; that bald patch that occurs always in the same spot on the back…

    I love velvet jackets, but not too blazerish with lapels as those are not pretty with an overly voluptuous bust.

  8. I did buy the Eileen Fisher velvet duster. I could not get it out of my mind. So I gave myself a little present. I LOVE it. Wore it to a gala Saturday night. But I’m really looking forward to wearing it casually with jean or cords or ??? It definitly is an investment piece but it is timeless. The other thing is that it is so comfortable. It feel like your favorite cardigan. I usually don’t rapsodize about clothes so you know this one got to me.

  9. I adore velvet jackets, and the pieces that you feature today are stunners. So many lengths and styles. I have many in my collections which are mostly vintage. I enjoy them every year!

  10. I had a black JCrew velvet blazer (lined with purple satin!) that I wore several seasons and as you say, it works with both jeans and dressier pants for winter/holiday outings. I loved loved loved it, and it got a LOT of use, but I later lost a lot of weight and gave it up.

    I think the Eileen Fisher is worth altering, if you really love it (and that duster style is already your thing, and would look great on you). The Zara is reasonably priced enough to order and return if you don’t like it. In fact, I may do that myself just now!

  11. I saw the Eilenn Fishwr duster jacket which is beautiful but beyond my current resources. I tried on the Zara kimono style jacket which was lovely but it wasn’t right for me. I did buy the Zara boyfriend style velvet jacket which is fabulous & will fit in with my other pieces & my lifestyle.

    1. Maryann I unfortunately am in the same place with the price of the E.F. jacket . Quick question on the the Zara boyfriend velvet jacket…I wear a 14/16 XL and often the Zara cut does not fit me. Is this jacket a slim or more loose style cut?

  12. I had a lovely Emerald Green velvet blazer for several years, but it was showing it’s age so I pitched when cleaning out my closet this past Spring. The one at J. Crew says out of stock tonight, but I’m thinking it might be too long for me. Like you I’ll keep looking. One day we’ll find the right blazer/jacket! I love every outfit you styled in this post!

  13. I promised an update on the Chicos’ velvet jacket. Followed up with them a few days ago when I never got a notice of item being shipped, turns out it was cancelled but I was never informed. In Indianapolis today and tried it on at a Chicos there…disappointed with everything about the jacket. It is very unstructured and feels like it is not lined even tho it is…the lining is a very busy print which in my opinion cheapens the look, most of all I disliked the fabric…it is not a nice velvet… and I did not like how the fabric “layed:..needless to say I left it at the store. So back to the hunt for a longer black velvet jacket